Courage was the quality Emeritus President Eddie Fenech Adami admired most in Mary, his life companion and wife of 46 years.

“I think what was really outstanding in her character was the sense of duty. She would do her best to overcome difficulties in any circumstance.

“She never shirked responsibility and what was amazing in the way she behaved, even to me, was her courage,” he told The Sunday Times yesterday.

“Nothing disheartened her. She would never say ‘this is impossible’ or ‘I can’t do this’. If she thought it was her duty to do it, she would,” he adds.

Mrs Fenech Adami, 77, fondly referred to as “is-sinjura Mer” among her many friends and neighbours, died on Friday, six days after suffering a heart attack at the wedding reception of the PrimeMinister’s son.

Those who knew her describe her as a woman who treated everybody equally, who never tired of listening to people’s gripes or misfortunes every time she went to the grocer or the market in Birkirkara, and who went beyond her call of duty to help those in need.

But beneath her pacific exterior was a woman with a steely strength who was confident in her decisions, whether it was standing her ground during the political upheaval of the 1980s or her refusal to live at San Anton Palace when her husband became President.

During public appearances, she was constantly by her husband’s side or one step behind, confident that whatever he was doing was for the good of the country.

Her presence on the streets of her home in Birkirkara and the family’s summer residence in Buġibba will be sorely missed.

But what will Dr Fenech Adami miss most about his wife?

“Practically everything about her, even simple things like knowing where things are in the house. I’ve already had experience of this today. She knew where everything was, so I’ll have to relearn what’s in the house and where, but I’ll manage,” he said, his voice becoming momentarily unsteady.

The two had met when they were young in St Paul’s Bay, wheretheir respective families spent their summers. In an interview with The Sunday Times in February 2009 to mark Dr Fenech Adami’s 75th birthday, she had recalled how at the time she was not interested in getting married.

“However, my friend kept dropping hints on what a good catch he was, but I was keen to help my mother at home. I guess the Holy Spirit illuminated me in the end and I have no regrets,” she had said.

Mrs Fenech Adami had added: “He’s not the romantic type, and never has been. These days, when we have a free evening we prefer spending it with the family. Hisdedication to the family is one thing I have always admired in him.”

This is something Dr Fenech Adami also cherished in his wife and his fondest memories of their time together revolve around the family – their children John, Beppe, Michael, Maria and Luigi, and 10 grandchildren.

“The best, most enjoyable part of her life and mine was when we were having children, five of them. It gave her great satisfaction and pride in having a family and looking after us all.”

What did she want best for him?

“She was always telling me to keep my cool, which I sometimes do lose. She looked after me in the best possible way one can think of.”

Dr Fenech Adami believes their faith is what will help him cope in the coming days. The former President shared a text message he had just received from family friend Fr Joe Borg, who recounted that during a trip to China some years ago Mrs Fenech Adami had told him it was a great gift that Jesus Christ followed them wherever they went. “She knew what she was going through and she saw this as moving on to a better world, the essence of the creator, which is what heaven is about. She had a sense of divine presence throughout her life,” Dr Fenech Adami said.